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Poems Every Child Should Know

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<h3>Abide With Me.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"Abide With Me" (Henry Francis Lyte, 1793-1847) appeals to our natural longing for the unchanging and to our love of security. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Abide with me! fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou who changest not, abide with me! </div> </td></tr></table> Henry Francis Lyte. <h3>Lead, Kindly Light</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"Lead, Kindly Light," by John Henry Newman (1801-90), was written when Cardinal Newman was in the stress and strain of perplexity and mental distress and bodily pain. The poem has been a star in the darkness to thousands. It was the favourite poem of President McKinley. </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on, The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on. Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. </div> <div class="stanza"> I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on. I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years. </div> <div class="stanza"> So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost a while. </div> </td></tr></table> John Henry Newman. <h3>The Last Rose of Summer.</h3> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> 'Tis the last rose of summer Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flower of her kindred, No rose-bud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh. </div> <div class="stanza"> I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! To pine on the stem; Since the lovely are sleeping, Go, sleep thou with them. Thus kindly I scatter Thy leaves o'er the bed Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead. </div> <div class="stanza"> So soon may I follow, When friendships decay, And from Love's shining circle The gems drop away. When true hearts lie withered, And fond ones are flown, O! who would inhabit This bleak world alone? </div> </td></tr></table> Thomas Moore. <h3>Annie Laurie.</h3> <div class="pre_poem">"Annie Laurie" finds a place in this collection because it is the most popular song on earth. Written by William Douglas, (——). </div> <table class="poem" summary="poem"><tr><td><div class="stanza"> Maxwelton braes are bonnie Where early fa's the dew, And it's there that Annie Laurie Gie'd me her promise true— Gie'd me her promise true, Which ne'er forgot will be; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doune and dee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Her brow is like the snawdrift, Her throat is like the swan, Her face it is the fairest That e'er the sun shone on— That e'er the sun shone on; And dark blue is her e'e; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doune and dee. </div> <div class="stanza"> Like dew on the gowan lying Is the fa' o' her fairy feet; Like the winds in summer sighing, Her voice is low and sweet— Her voice is low and sweet; And she's a' the world to me; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doune and dee. </div> </td></tr></table> William Douglas. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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